Students regularly see Head of School Mr. Craig Bradley standing outside his office after All-School Meeting, attending sports games, or walking his dog with his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Webb. But what does he do with the rest of his time?
Mr. Bradley begins each day by exercising and having breakfast with Dr. Webb. “Daily exercise is religious for me,” he said. “It’s a big stress reliever.” He then heads up to his office, where he reviews his schedule, answers emails, prepares for meetings, and writes reports.
Mr. Bradley keeps his door open throughout the day. Students who would like to speak to him are encouraged to schedule an appointment or just stop by. Mrs. Lisa Brown, chief of staff to the head of school, said, “Mr. Bradley is a good listener, and he cares about the student experience. He maintains a good balance between his head of school responsibilities and being a community figure. Mr. Bradley’s work can be overwhelming sometimes, but he always makes time to engage with the student body.”
Mr. Bradley is currently working with Mr. Alex Ginzburg, instructor in mathematics, and Dr. Jeff Blevins, director of academic research programs, to finalize the details of the new History of Math and Physics Program. “There is a lot of fundraising that goes into the different programs that we have, and my job in this case is to find someone, an alum or a philanthropist, who is willing to support the program,” he said.
In the afternoons and evenings, Mr. Bradley often attends sports games, theatre performances, concerts, and other community events. “I like to see students in different contexts,” Mr. Bradley said. “I’ll run into them later that week and I can say, ‘I saw your squash match, and it was a great game!’ or ‘I was at your performance last night, and it was spectacular!’” Mr. Bradley also hosts monthly birthday celebrations for students at Frank House.
Mr. Bradley’s responsibilities extend beyond the school’s campus. He travels frequently to connect with alums, parents, donors, and prospective families. Last November, Mr. Bradley traveled to Asia to visit alums and parents, and this February he will speak at the National Association of Independent Schools conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
Mr. Bradley also manages the school’s larger priorities and future goals, such as filling faculty positions and fundraising for scholarships. This entails both supporting the school’s current projects, like dining hall renovations, and pursuing new initiatives, like building a sidewalk from Main Campus to Lakeville.
Outside of work, Mr. Bradley enjoys the wilderness, whether it’s hiking in Beeslick Woods, cross-country skiing , or canoeing. He said, “During the day, I’m often on the phone or spending time meeting people. I enjoy socializing, but when I have free time I prefer to be alone. Dr. Webb and I spend as much time as we can outside, because it gives us a little rest from work.”
Mr. Bradley shared some final advice for students: “Get enough sleep, exercise, and pay attention to nutrition. The mind and body go together. Even though our work requires the mind, it can’t function if our bodies are not well.”
